currently reading a few but most one is "Living Your Best life now" by Joel Osteen

reading few others but can't even remember names right now. I read the book but I don't pay much attention to name

How do you reconcile Osteen's ideas about money and the "prosperity gospel" in general with Jesus' teachings on wealth?

I'm quite font of Joel Osteen and occasionally watch his very uplifting sermons. I consider him a great motivational speaker. The stuff about God I ignore as I'm an atheist but overall I like his message and think he brings more positive to the world than negative.

I cant stand him, have never seen or heard any of his socalled sermons, and am actually quite disappointed to say that I know someone who follows him.

How can you not stand him if you've never heard any of his sermons?

ant wrote:I cant stand him, have never seen or heard any of his socalled sermons, and am actually quite disappointed to say that I know someone who follows him.

interesting. I never knew you could hate someone sermons if you never heard it before. why you hate the man?

Ant, why do you hate him?

As far as I can tell what Osteen preaches is a sort of positive thinking self help philosophy wrapped in pseudo Christian packaging. He's a softer version of the prosperity gospel snake oil peddlers.
He doesn't make public appeals for money and his fortune comes mainly from his book sales and his touring public appearances which are ticketed and usually sold out.
Lots of people love him and his message and are willing to buy his books and pay to hear him. His teaching definitely clashes with Christ's on things like money and wealth and is quite foreign to Christianity in many ways.
Here's a fairly balanced article on him and various takes on the value of his message.
https://blogs.vancouversun.com/2014/08/ ... o-be-rich/
Poor link. It's a Vancouver sun article titled. Joe Osteen is successful but does God want us all rich?

Chris OConnor wrote:How can you not stand him if you've never heard any of his sermons?

Fair enough.

But once while driving as a passenger with someone a cassette of his was playing. I listened along for about 20 minutes, thought is was trite "COMMON! YOU CAN DO IT! GOD WANTS YOU TO BE RICH LIKE ME!" garbage, and asked the person to turn it off.

I had heard enough for one lifetime.
I'd rather listen to someone scratching their nails on a chalkboard.

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